mean to erect barriers to meal programs and sleeping in doorways.
The business community came out in full force to air their grievances with antisocial behavior associated with some members of the homeless community and their frustration with what they perceive as a lack of response by the city government to address their concerns.
Downtown businesses have been complaining over the past six months that aggressive panhandling and other forms of harassing behavior has driven away repeat customers and potential business.
“Santa Monica has become a Mecca for the homeless and the public feedings are the magnet,” said Michael Gruning, president-elect of the Santa Monica Chamber of Commerce.
Some residents said curbing the meal programs in the parks would be a compassionate decision by the council because it would force the homeless to participate in social service programs intended to lift them out of poverty.
“We need to focus on programs that will empower these people,” said resident Carlos Vigon. “Giving them food in Palisades Park is just skirting the issue.”
But many homeless testified that without charities providing the food, they wouldn’t just go hungry. Without the food, they said it’s very likely they could get sick and even possibly die.
“I’m fighting everyday to take the same breath all of you take for granted,” said a homeless woman only going by the name ‘Viper.’ “You need to wake up and smell the coffee, people are dying on the streets out there are you’re only trying to make it worse.”
Other homeless activists said limiting the transients access to public space was placing them in a Catch-22 situation.
“There’s only two types of property, public and private,” said Jennifer Yellowhorse, an activist who publishes a homeless newspaper. “If you’re not allowed on private property and you’re not allowed on public property, then where are you supposed to go?”
“What would you like us to do, levitate?” she asked.
Originally published in the Santa Monica Daily Press print edition on September 26, 2002. Read the original PDF.